Keeping Your Online Gadgets Safe

A wide range of household gadgets are being targeted by hackers, now that a gap in their security has been revealed. It is vital that for your own safety and security that you know how easy it is to keep your gadgets free from hacking by burglars and other criminals, so I shall outline very easy ways to enable this safety.

Gadgets that are being targeted include televisions, kids’ toys, smart thermostats, smart speakers, baby monitors and smart cameras. Most experts within this field have stated that the security of these devices is very good, but devices that use wireless technology is a criminal’s path straight into your own home, as they can easily be hacked. Similarly, Bluetooth connections between gadgets is another method of access into your own private life within your home. These have all come about due to the passwords attached to the gadgets being easily predicted, and not changed by house owners, leaving them vulnerable to hacking by burglars. Below, we look at the gadgets listed above, and advise you with some very easy steps to make them much safer and resilient to hackers.

Televisions:

Televisions come with cameras, microphones and web connection, all of which are accessible for hackers, potentially being able to use these means to broadcast inappropriate videos directly onto your TV. To resist this from happening, put some black tape over the top of the camera on your TV, and tweak your security settings to make it harder for hackers to get through (reset password etc.).

Kids’ Toys

Your children could be contacted by perverts through their gadgets where offensive images, videos or voices could be broadcast to them. Which? Has stated that karaoke machines, robots and walkie talkies all had security flaws, and 3 of the 7 toys tested could allow strangers to be in contact with the user. To improve the security of these gadgets, alter the PIN numbers and passwords, and turn the gadgets off when not in use by the children.

Smart Thermostats

The altering of your heating in your house could leave clues to hackers and burglars as to whether or not you are home, where if the heating is off for a long period, it would suggest to them that you are not in your house, leaving it vulnerable to burglary. To avoid your thermostat being hacked, again alter your password to something strong, and potentially allow two-step authentication, making your gadget more resilient and less likely to be hacked.

Smart Speakers

One of the best speakers in the market is Amazon’s Alexa, a gadget found in within most families now-a-days. However, there are some security fears that hackers are listening or even watching your daily activities through the cameras that some of the products are equipped with. Look for cameras on the product, and cover these up. There is also an option to opt out of being listened to, and manually programme instructions to Alexa through a tablet, being more secure, if strong passwords are set up between the two devices.

Baby Monitors and Smart Cameras

Some video cameras that can be bought cheaply on online shopping markets such as amazon have been tested to have security flaws, making it easier for hackers to access your gadgets. Weak passwords and remote access for strangers were noticed as key factors that meant hackers could easily use the cameras to investigate your homes. Before you buy a product such as this, use products that are well-known such as Arlo and Nest, which all have a high level of security.

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